Sail yacht DOUCE FRANCE, a 138-foot crewed catamaran charters vessel, is presently cruising the beautiful Marshall Islands until September, then on to Indonesia through mid-October and Thailand for the winter.

We were arranging an Indian Ocean mega yacht charter for a client last week, when the client mentioned that her husband loves to go to marine-themed sea parks like SeaWorld, but doesn't like to swim. Conversely, the client loves to dive and view the creatures of the sea up close and personal.

Leave it to our crack team to find a yacht that caters to both spouses – the 75 meter motor yacht, ANASTASIA.

The custom-built Oceancomotor yacht ANASTASIAis truly sports-oriented and versatile when it comes to entertainment and active leisure. Features include a disco, live band stage, a home theater, and a gymnasium with a swimming pool.

But that's not all, the yacht's salon features a stunning 2,700 LITER aquarium with artificial reef and live fish.

Clients who prefer to stay dry can still appreciate and view the wonders of the ocean, while more action-oriented guests put to use the yacht's extensive aquatoy inventory – from waverunners, to water skis, to multiple sets of top-of-the-line SCUBA diving gear.

Oceanco yacht ANASTASIA can accommodate 10 guests in two luxurious VIP suites and three double cabins. Rates begin at €650,000 per week.

Share this:

A finalist for the World Superyacht Awards in 2012, motor yacht O'PATI combines high performance and sexy Italian styling in a modern design. With sleek, powerful lines designed by Giorgio Vafiadis & Associates, the 40 meter motor yacht O'PATI exudes elegance and power, while her dark hull conceals so much more.

With a top speed of 32 knots, yacht O'PATI can effortlessly take guests from a secluded Ionian beach to a cosmopolitan port in the Cyclades in what seems the blink of an eye. Her professional crew of 8 stand ready to tend each charter guest's every need.

While this superyacht has a seductive appearance, there is much more to be discovered beyond the first visual impression. Spacious deck areas from the bow, to the flybridge, to the main aft deck offering ample comfort.

The flybridge features inviting setting, with large sunbeds for lounging in a private setting. The bow is a sunbather's paradise, boasting a large sofa and table, along with roomy sunbeds, while the aft deck offers ample space for al fresco meals. A retractable awning on the aft deck, easily transforms the area from a setting for meals into a sun-drenched lounging space.

The vessel's dark exterior is in pleasing contrast to the fresh, bright interior spaces. Leather, wood and high-quality fabrics offer a minimalist Italian-design both contemporary and comfortable. The main salon flaunts a palette of whites and creamy tones, blended with natural dark woods. Sight lines are modern and moderately curvy in the salon, and highlight a room of space and finesse.

All accommodations for up to 12 passengers, including the Master stateroom, are located belowdeck. Each room is decorated in slightly different variations of M/Y O’PATI's interior style.

An array of recreational toys are onboard for the use of the guests, and include a three-seat waverunner, two tenders, and a large collection of equipment for snorkeling, waterskiing, fishing and wakeboarding.

Share this:

The world's largest luxurysailing catamaran, yacht HEMISPHERE, has announced a dramatic rate reduction for the remainder of the summer Mediterranean yacht charter season.

The 44 meter (145 foot) sail catamaran HEMISPHEREwas priced at Euro € 196,000 per week in high season (July and August). For the remainder ofthe summer the rate is reduced to Euro€154,000 per week for charters of at least 7 days.

Share this:

At 62 meters (203ft) in length, the massive sail yacht ATHOSenters her second Greek yacht charter season as the largest sailing vessel for hire in the Greek islands.

Designed by Andre Hoek and built by Holland Jachtbouw, yacht ATHOSis registered as the world’s largest privately-owned schooner and the most technologically sophisticated classic sail yacht on the seas.

Accommodations are available for 10 guests in 3 doubles staterooms, plus 2 twins (convertible) cabins. A captain and crew compliment of 8 are on hand to attend to the guests as well as the safe operation of the superyacht.

The yacht's 11-meter beam (the width of the vessel) creates an unprecedented amount of volume. The interior includes a luxurious owners’ suite, with private cockpit and deckhouse. The main deckhouse offers a formal dining area as well as an entertainment lounge.

Unique points of interest:

â– A centerboard keel allowing her to access shallow waters that other vessels of her size cannot contemplate.

Share this:

Flight delays are tedious, but waiting to head off on a luxury sailing charter holiday is a bit more bearable while waiting inside a beautiful, well-designed airport terminal.

While most airports are merely utilitarian in layout and many travelers too harried to pay attention to the design, more and more cities are spending lavishly to build artistic, captivating terminals to serve as their city’s gateway.Here are our three favorite airport terminals in the world:

Terminal 4, Barajas Airport, Madrid

Terminal 4 features colorful pylons supporting a bamboo-lined roof. The design creates a series of daylight-filled canyons in which both arriving and departing passengers pass through one spectacular space.

Designed to handle 35 million passengers a year, Barajas Airport is one of Europe’s dominant air-hubs and is an excellent gateway for Balearic Island yacht charters

TWA Terminal, John F. Kennedy Airport, New York CityWhether a superyacht or an airport, the use of classic architecture is timeless. The TWA terminal at JFK was built in 1962 yet still sets a standard for today’s designers. The poured-concrete swoops and curves express the excitement of air travel and the romance of flight.

Terminal 3, Beijing International AirportAt two miles long, the vast Terminal 3 in Beijing is of the largest buildings in the world. Designed to represent a dragon, the architects color-coded the ceiling to filter in red and yellow zones of sunlight.

Not only does the traditionally Chinese color scheme heighten the building’s dramatic effect, it also helps passengers navigate through the building.

Honorable Mentions:– The light tunnel at Chicago O’Hare’s United Airlines terminal– Artist Michele Oka Doner’s sea life-embedded floor at Miami international Airport, Concourse A, which earned a cameo in the George Clooney movie, Up in the Air.

Share this:

Tired of spending layovers in an airport? Yahoo! now offers an app for iPhone users that lets you create custom itineraries based on your location and amount of time you have to spend.

Yahoo! TimeTraveler™ creates on-the-fly time-based itineraries with a selection of popular points of interest.

Let's say you are on your way to enjoy a Virgin Islands yacht charter vacation and your flight from New York is delayed for 4 hours for mechanical issues. Just open the app and type in your location and Yahoo! TimeTraveler™ will show you what you can see and do around The Big Apple in 4 hours.

With just a few clicks, Yahoo! TimeTraveler™ helps you find the most popular places, and you can save the info for easy access while on the go. You can also publish your itinerary online to share with friends and family.

Share this:

Most celebs hope to avoid the paparazzi and the press during their summer Mediterranean yacht charter vacations. Not so for music superstar Rihanna.

While on holiday this week, onboard the 52-meter Benetti yacht LATITUDE, Rihanna is happily sharing her pics of herself with her fans via Twitter.

The Barbados-born singer is chillaxin on the Italian-built superyacht with two of her BFFs off the coast of Sardinia – and nearly 23 million Twitter followers can share in her adventure.

Accompanying one of the photos, Rihanna Tweeted, "New day, new experiences, new lessons, [second] chance at life!"

Among the onboard amenities on motor yacht LATITUDE are an elevator, private outdoor entertainment areas and a sundeck gym. With exterior design by Stefano Natucci and interiors by Mauro Izzo, the Benetti-built yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests and is operated by a crew of 13.

Share this:

Anyone who has waited in queue behind the red velvet rope to get into a trendy nightclub or restaurant knows the importance of reservations. Many social outings come to a screeching halt without the requisite personal connections or well-planned reservations made far in advance.

The same holds true in the

mega yacht charter industry. As more and larger yachts clamor for dockage, vessels without advanced reservations are often forced to anchor at sea and tender their clients ashore.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Saint-Tropez, France. The jewel of the Côte d'Azur, when "The Season" arrives, the odds of securing a slip in the fabled town's small marina are next to impossible – no matter who you are or who you know…

If you're considering a French Riviera yacht charter this summer, here are three yachts who have planned ahead and secured berths in Saint-Tropez:

â– RUFF ONE – the 24 meter Sunseeker yacht RUFF ONE is superbly comfortable for 4 to 6 guests and is available for € 34,000 per week plus expenses. The yacht has a confirmed berth in St Tropez for the 14th and 15th of July. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the Bastille Day fireworks.

Share this:

A recent survey confirms the increasing popularity of Thailand as an emerging destination for yachting vacations.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced a survey by MasterCard Worldwide, has named Thailand's capital, Bangkok, the third-most favorite global destination in 2012.

According to the survey, Bangkok follows only London and Paris in the rankings and is expected to draw around 12.2 million visitors, who will spend about 19.2 million dollars this year.

Thailand was 4th in the rankings of tourist spending in 2011, with the record of 14.4 billion dollars, after UK, the USA, and France.

Jana Sheeder, President of SailAway Yacht Charters, states, "We have definitely noticed a greater interest in Thailand as a charter destination, especially in our bareboatoperation. A Thailand luxury sailing charter is a superb option for those seeking adventure in an exotic, unique locale."